Midterm Evaluation (3)
'Disrupt the First Prince's plan and, at the same time, recruit Yuri Gilbert.'
Zeke set his goal as such.
However, he didn't act immediately.
Everything has its own order.
'Let's prepare the groundwork first.'
And the next day.
Zeke didn't have any classes today.
Selena had gone to the academy for general classes.
Normally, Zeke would have been training alone in Ramielli's training grounds, but
he stayed at the mansion because he had something to do.
He checked the letters that had arrived for him.
'I'm sure I was told there was something that came for me last time.'
After the Eustia banquet, many people had sent him various letters.
Invitations to attend their own banquets.
Letters from nobles wanting to form connections.
And letters from some brave young ladies.
Even though they knew he was connected to Yohaiden and Eustia, they subtly expressed their interest, their perfume scent lingering on the paper.
Strangely, all the letters with the young ladies' names on them had traces of being carefully opened and resealed.
Despite the pile of letters, Zeke didn't even glance at any of them.
What he was looking for was a letter with the Yohaiden seal, which he had kept separate.
Most of the thirty-odd letters gathered there were addressed to Selena.
'Selena said she was struggling to write letters every day. This doting father must be incredibly worried about Selena.'
As Zeke was checking the names, he found a letter with his own name on it.
'Found it.'
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Sir Zeke Clayman.
I am Purna Yohaiden, head of the Yohaiden Dukedom.
I've noticed Selena's replies to my letters have been slow lately... Perhaps you're pushing her too hard with training...?
No, let's get straight to the point.
That day, right after meeting you, I secretly met with His Majesty the Emperor and reported everything that happened.
As expected, he didn't believe it at first. I wouldn't have believed such an absurd thing if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, so it's not strange.
However, the creature you captured became the decisive evidence. The Royal Knight Captain's sword couldn't pierce it at all.
His Majesty the Emperor was greatly concerned about the possibility of a rebellion after seeing that.
So, as you suggested, we brought the magic stones held by the Imperial Family, ground them into powder, and applied it to a sword before stabbing the creature. And the sword went through.
His Majesty was curious about how you discovered this method, but I didn't mention you for now. It seems you dislike getting involved in troublesome matters.
Anyway, we've been gathering magic stones on a large scale since then. Although the price of magic stones, which were already expensive, has risen, with the financial power of the Imperial Family and Yohaiden, we should be able to acquire enough for our armaments.
I'm sending you this letter because you're also involved with them.
I've slipped it in among Selena's letters, so you don't have to worry about security. After all, the best place to hide a tree is in a forest, isn't it?
If you have any business with us regarding this matter,
or even if it's unrelated, feel free to visit the Duke's mansion anytime.
We will sincerely welcome our benefactor.
Yohaiden is a family that never forgets a debt of gratitude.
P.S. However, I would be delighted if Selena could accompany you when you come.
By the way, doesn't our Sere talk about me at all?
- Purna Yohaiden
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
It was a letter overflowing with the sentimentality of a doting father.
'Hmm, the Yohaiden mansion...'
If he rode a horse non-stop, it would take about three days.
Exchanging letters back and forth would be too slow to handle Zeke's current needs.
'Especially when the intermediate evaluation is next week.'
Zeke rolled the few remaining magic stones, originally reserved for the students, in his hand.
'If I use this...'
If he went in person and asked the Duke, he could receive a much larger quantity.
Zeke nodded.
"I'll arrive in six hours."
Zeke left a note for Selena and departed from the mansion.
* * *
Purna Yohaiden was once again gazing out the window of his office.
The scenery was bathed in the golden hues of sunset.
Ever since his youngest daughter, the apple of his eye, left the mansion, Duke Yohaiden had been spending more time staring blankly out the window.
The day he visited Selena, an incident unfortunately broke out, preventing him from even properly greeting her.
Because the incident was related to his daughter's safety, he wanted to resolve it as quickly as possible and hurried things along.
After meeting with His Majesty, he had to return directly to the Duke's mansion.
'I wonder if Sere's letter will arrive today... No, it would be a dream come true if she came to visit, saying she missed her father...'
However, it was a four-day journey from the capital, Ramielli, to this place.
A week by carriage.
Knowing Selena's diligent nature, skipping the academy and returning to the mansion was an impossible option.
Duke Yohaiden clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Of course, he wasn't overly worried, knowing that that guy was by his daughter's side.
When he inquired about the skills displayed that day, the Knight Captain had said that no one in the Yohaiden Knights could fight like that.
'Even so... I miss her...'
Duke Yohaiden lamented his inability to leave his post.
Of course, if he desperately wanted to hear about Selena's well-being, he could send one of his two sons, but
he couldn't tolerate them going to see Selena without him.
"Ahem..."
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
"...Lord Duke."
"What is it?"
"A guest has arrived."
"...A guest?"
To arrive unannounced at this hour, as the sun was setting...
It must be some inconsiderate, reckless noble.
But hadn't he been keeping an eye on the mansion entrance...?
He felt something was amiss, but the Duke concealed his displeasure and spoke.
"Send them away."
"Well, about that..."
The butler remained rooted to the spot, his face etched with confusion.
"Hmm?"
"He had a letter bearing the Duke's seal."
"My letter?"
"Yes, he said you invited him to come anytime..."
Duke Yohaiden was bewildered.
"Me? I've never done such a thing...?"
"But it was definitely a letter with the Yohaiden seal."
As the situation took a strange turn, Duke Yohaiden pondered the letters he had written, his face hardening as he recalled something.
"W-wait, what did he look like?"
Could it be...?
"Yes, he appeared young. He had black hair and black eyes. Perhaps a northern noble..."
"Q-quickly! To the reception room!"
Duke Yohaiden forgot his decorum and exclaimed.
The butler was dumbfounded.
Who was this person to make the Duke, whom even the Emperor treated with deference, flustered like a headless chicken?
For now, the butler reluctantly nodded and hurried away.
***
Having arrived at the Yohaiden Dukedom in just half a day by liberally using magic stones, Zeke was guided to the opulent reception room.
He accepted the tea offered by a servant and sat on the sofa.
After a short wait, the door burst open, and the Duke entered, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Selena!"
Zeke tilted his head in confusion.
And the Duke also tilted his head in confusion.
"...Selena...?"
"I came alone..."
"Why?"
"Because you invited me...?"
An awkward silence hung between Zeke and the Duke for a moment, and the Duke cleared his throat with a cough.
He tried to regain his composure, putting on a stern expression, but Zeke had already witnessed his flustered side.
'Doting father.'
"You came alone?"
"Yes."
"Didn't I clearly state in the letter to come together? Why did you come alone?"
"Selena has classes to attend."
"Then how did you!"
"I don't have classes today."
The Duke's forehead veins throbbed at Zeke's nonchalant reply, then he realized something was amiss.
"Wait, did you say today?"
"Yes."
"...It takes at least four days to travel from the academy to here..."
"Ah, I have an artifact given to me by my master. It's a precious item that allows for swift travel. It consumes a lot of magic stones, so I don't use it often, but I had some urgent business today."
Zeke vaguely explained, not wanting to bother explaining why he had rushed here using magic stones.
"...Then you could have come with Selena on the weekend..."
"It's a one-person artifact."
"Ahem!"
"Anyway, I came to see you because I have a favor to ask."
At those words, Duke Yohaiden's gaze changed.
From a doting father concerned about his daughter, he transformed back into the shrewd, veteran noble of the Empire.
'This guy. He said he didn't need any reward back then... Was that just because Selena was present?'
Duke Yohaiden's assessment of him dropped a notch.
He found it audacious that Zeke came here alone to make his request instead of patiently waiting for the Duke to offer assistance.
And he didn't even bring Selena!
However, he had already given his word to grant any request, and Zeke was indeed his benefactor.
If it weren't for him, the Duke might not even be breathing right now.
Duke Yohaiden decided to adjust his evaluation of Zeke based on his request, nodding his head.
"Very well. What is it that you desire? Speak freely."
"Yes. First of all... the intermediate evaluation is next week."
"...?"
Zeke Clayman was suddenly talking about the Ramielli Academy's schedule.
Wasn't he going to ask for money or something?
"First, could you invite as many people as possible to the academy that day?"
"Why would you... No, more importantly... Ramielli Academy is a protected area under the seal of the previous Emperor... To invite people to the intermediate evaluation? What do you mean?"
"Ah, you don't have to worry about that. They'll accept it since it's their fault in the first place."
"They? Who are 'they,' and what did they do...?"
"It's a joint training session."
"A joint training session?"
Duke Yohaiden's eyes widened in question.
"Your Grace. How much do you know about the First Prince?"
Zeke smirked, the corners of his lips curling upwards.
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